Method and apparatus for issuing rights object required to use digital content

ABSTRACT

Provided are a method and apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content. The method includes receiving the digital content and the rights object; and encrypting the received rights object using a public key of a secure multimedia card (SMC) and storing the encrypted rights object in the SMC.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-24318 filed on Mar. 13, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/799,652 filed on May 12, 2006 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for issuing a rights object and capable of storing digital rights management (DRM) content, which is usually provided online, in a secure multimedia card (SMC) so that the DRM content can also be provided offline.

2. Description of the Related Art

DRM is a technical mechanism to protect copyright on digital content and properly charge for the use of the digital content. In particular, DRM is designed to protect digital content that can be easily copied and distributed in illegal ways.

Conventionally, in order to protect digital content, access to the digital content was allowed to users who had paid for the digital content, but not to users who had not paid for the digital content. However, since the digital content, by its nature, can be easily reused, processed, copied, and distributed, if a user who had accessed the digital content illegally copied or distributed the digital content, the users who had not paid for the digital content could also use the digital content.

To tackle this problem, DRM encrypts digital content so that the digital content can be distributed in an encrypted form. In addition, DRM requires a specified license called a “rights object” to use the encrypted digital content.

FIG. 1 illustrates a related art DRM concept.

Referring to FIG. 1, a user 110 who desires to use digital content (hereinafter, referred to as content) may obtain desired content from a content issuer 120.

In this case, the content provided by the content issuer 120 is in an encrypted form. Therefore, a DRM system needs a rights object to use the encrypted content. The rights object is a software object that includes information such as copyright information of content, information regarding user rights, etc.

The user 110 may pay a rights object issuer 130 for a rights object including the right to execute the encrypted content and obtain the rights object from the rights object issuer 130. Rights included in the rights object may include a content encryption key (CEK) required to decrypt the encrypted content.

The rights object issuer 130 reports the details of the issuance of the rights object to the content issuer 120. In some cases, the rights object issuer 130 and the content issuer 120 may be the same entity.

The user 110 who obtained the rights object as described above may consume the rights object and thus use the encrypted content.

A rights object includes limit information such as the number of times that content can be used by consuming the rights object, a period of time during which the content can be used by consuming the rights object, or the number of times that the rights object can be copied. Unlike content, the reuse or copying of a rights object is limited. Therefore, content can be effectively protected by DRM.

Generally, users store rights objects in various hosts, which execute multimedia data, such as a personal computer (PC), an MP3 player, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). Accordingly, there is a growing need for sharing digital content between different devices.

However, since DRM content, which is sold based on conventional DRM technology, is dependent on a particular device, it cannot be used on other devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content, which are capable of storing digital content and a rights object in hardware, such as a SMC, in the form of media so that the digital content can be used on various multimedia devices.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content. The method includes receiving the digital content and the rights object; and encrypting the rights object using a public key of an SMC and storing the encrypted rights object in the SMC.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content. The method includes selecting the digital content using a digital content purchase interface and paying for the digital content; encrypting a rights object for the digital content using a binding target key; and storing the encrypted rights object in an SMC.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content. The method includes forming a security channel with a digital content storage device after mutual authentication and receiving the rights object from the digital content storage device; and decrypting the rights object using a binding target key and providing information required to play back the digital content.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content. The apparatus includes a purchase interface unit which receives information regarding the digital content selected by a user, the purchase interface unit being used by the user to pay for the digital content; an encryption unit which encrypts the rights object for the digital content using a binding target key and stores the encrypted rights object in an SMC; and a communication interface unit which communicates with the SMC.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content. The apparatus includes a communication interface unit which forms a security channel with an SMC after mutual authentication and receives the rights object from the SMC; and a content provision unit which decrypts the rights object using a binding target key and provides information required to play back the digital content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a related art DRM concept;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of using a rights object required to use digital content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an apparatus for using a rights object required to use digital content according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein; rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and thus their description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a method and apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to block diagrams or flowchart illustrations.

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the instructions, which are executed via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer readable recording medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer usable or computer readable recording medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions that are executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

And each block of the flowchart illustrations may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is assumed that a rights object stored in a SMC, which is used in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, includes information definitely needed to use DRM content and that the format of the rights object can be easily converted into formats supported by different DRM systems.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, SMC manufacturer 230 receives a digital content 221 from a content issuer 220 who provides digital content and holds copyright on the digital content, and receives a rights object 211 from a copyright issuer 210 who issues a rights object (operation S201).

Then, the SMC manufacturer 230 encrypts the received rights object 211 using a key of an SMC 240, and stores the encrypted rights object 211 in the SMC 240 together with the digital content 221 (operation S202).

Here, the key used to encrypt the received rights object 211 may use public-key cryptography or symmetric-key cryptography.

Public-key cryptography, also known as asymmetric-key cryptography, is a form of cryptography in which different encryption keys are used to encrypt and decrypt data.

In the public-key cryptography, an encryption key is composed of a pair of a public key and a private key.

The public key need not be kept secret and can be easily revealed to other devices, while the private key is revealed only to a particular device.

Symmetric-key cryptography, also known as secret-key cryptography, is a form of cryptography in which the same encryption key is used to encrypt and decrypt data.

The encryption key used in operation S202 may use any one of the public-key cryptography and the symmetric-key cryptography described above, which is not limited to the present embodiment.

To encrypt data (including a rights object and/or content in this exemplary embodiment) using a key of a specific target is called “binding,” and bound data can be decrypted by the specific target only.

An exemplary embodiment of binding data to a specific target will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 3.

A user cannot arbitrarily move or copy the rights object 211, which is bound to the SMC 240, to another device. If the user is given the right to change a binding target, the user can change the binding target in a predetermined procedure.

After operation S202, the SMC manufacturer 230 commercializes the SMC 240, which stores the digital content 221 and the rights object 211, and releases it onto the market.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, it is assumed that an SMC 340 held by a user is inserted into an online host 330 and that the online host 330 receives one or more pieces of content from a content issuer 320 and one or more corresponding rights objects from a copyright issuer 310.

A host is a device, which plays back DRM content according to rights included in a rights object, and includes an SMC connection unit. An online host is an SMC-support host that can access a network and receive a rights object from a copyright issuer.

Examples of the online host 330 include a PC, a mobile phone, a PDA, a portable media player (PMP), and a kiosk. If a kiosk is used as the online host 330, an SMC can be purchased at the same time when a rights object is issued, which will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the user selects and pays for desired content 321 using a content purchase interface provided by the online host 330 (operation S301).

The content purchase interface provided by the online host 330 may include a display unit (not shown) displaying one or more content lists and/or an input unit (not shown) receiving selection of content in order to facilitate the selection of the user. In addition, the content purchase interface may be connected to a settlement system (not shown) by wired and wireless networks so that the user can pay for the content 321.

After operation S301, a rights object 311 for the paid content 321 is encrypted using a key of a binding target designated by the online host 330 (operation S302).

The binding target may be designated according to a policy of the copyright issuer 310. Alternatively, the user may designate the binding target after paying for the content 321.

Binding targets according to this exemplary embodiment include a card, a user, a domain and a host, and a detailed description thereof is as follows.

(1) SMC binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of an SMC, if it is moved or copied to devices other than the SMC, corresponding content cannot be used. However, anyone who holds the SMC can consume the rights object bound to the SMC.

(2) User binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of a user, other people cannot use the rights object. However, the user can consume the rights object bound to various devices that the user has.

(3) Domain binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of a domain, devices that have not joined the domain cannot use the rights object. However, all devices that have joined the domain can consume the rights object bound to the domain.

(4) Host binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of a host, if the rights object is moved to devices other than the host, it cannot be used. However, anyone who owns the host can consume the rights object bound to the host.

A rights object can be moved and copied when the right to move and copy the rights object is available. If a rights object is moved from a first device to a second device, the rights object is completely removed from the first device. Therefore, the rights object exists only in the second device.

In operation S302, if it is the copyright issuer 310 that binds the rights object 311 to a binding target, the rights object 311 is encrypted using a key of a binding target designated by the copyright issuer 310 and transmitted subsequently to the online host 330. On the other hand, in operation S302, if it is the online host 330 that binds the rights object 311, the rights object 311 is encrypted using a key of a binding target designated by the online host 330 after the rights object 311 is issued by the copyright issuer 310 to the online host 330.

After operation S302, the encrypted rights object 311 and the content 321 are transmitted to the online host 330 (operation S303).

After operation S303, the encrypted rights object 311 and the content 321 are moved to and stored in the SMC 340 (operation S304).

In this case, the rights object 311 may include the right to move the rights object 311 from the online host 330 to the SMC 340, and the right may limit the rights object 311 to be moved only to a predetermined SMC.

After operation S304, the user may retrieve the SMC 340 from the online host 330 and use the content 321 by consuming the rights object 311 according to the binding target.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of using a rights object required to use digital content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, it is assumed that content 412 and a rights object 411 are stored in an SMC 410 held by a user and that the user inserts the SMC 410 into a host 420 in order to use the content 412 and the rights object 411.

If the SMC 410 is inserted into the host 420, the host 420 and the SMC 410 form a security channel after authenticating each other (operation S401).

Here, the SMC 410 and the host 420 can authenticate each other using a binding target.

For example, if the rights object 411 stored in the SMC 410 is bound to a user key, the SMC 410 and the host 420 can authenticate each other using the user key in operation S401. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the SMC 410 and the host 420 can also authenticate each other using other methods.

The security channel is a transmission channel formed after devices authenticate each other, and guarantees the encryption and integrity of transmission data.

After operation S401, if the host 420 requests the SMC 410 to provide the rights object 411, the SMC 410 transmits the rights object 411 to the host 420 (operation S402).

The rights object 411 transmitted to the host 420 includes the right to use the content 412, usage limit information of the content 412, duplication limit information of the rights object 411, an identification (ID) of the rights object 411, an ID of the content 412, etc.

Hereinafter, the above information contained in the rights object 411 will be described in more detail.

The right to use the content 412 includes a content encryption key (CEK) required to decrypt the content 412, and the CEK is a key value used by a device (the host 420 in this exemplary embodiment) to decrypt the content 412. The host 420 receives the rights object 411 from a storage device (the SMC 410 in this exemplary embodiment) storing the rights object 411, extracts the CEK from the received rights object 411, and decrypts the content 412 using the extracted CEK. Thus, the protected content 412 can be used.

The usage limit information indicates a limit to which the rights object 411 can be consumed in order to execute the content 412. Types of limits contained in the usage limit information include a usage date limit, a usage frequency limit, a usage period limit, and a usage time limit.

In addition, the duplication limit information indicates the number of times or a degree to which the rights object 411 can be copied or moved. The duplication limit information may include copy limit information and movement limit information.

Copying the rights object 411 denotes transmitting the rights object 411 from the existing host 420 or a first storage device (hereinafter, referred to as a source device) to another host (not shown) or a second storage device (hereinafter, referred to as a destination device) without removing the rights object 411 from the source device. Moving the rights object 411 denotes transmitting the rights object 411 from the source device to the destination device while removing the rights object 411 from the source device.

Therefore, a user can copy or move a rights object stored in a host or a portable storage device to another host or another portable storage device up to a maximum number of times that the rights object can be copied or moved, which is set in the rights object.

The ID of the rights object 411 is an identifier used to distinguish the rights object 411 from other rights objects, and the ID of the content 412 is an identifier used to identify the content 412 which can be executed by consuming the rights object 411.

The rights object 411, which was transmitted from the SMC 410 to the host 420 in operation S402, is decrypted by the host 420 using a binding target key, and the decrypted rights object 411 provides information required to play back the content 412 (operation S403).

Here, the binding target key used to decrypt the rights object 411 is determined according to a binding target key used to encrypt the rights object 411.

Binding targets according to this exemplary embodiment include a card, a user, a domain and a host, and a detailed description thereof is as follows.

(1) SMC binding: a rights object is decrypted using a key of an SMC.

(2) User binding: a host generates a user's key based on input user information or receives the user's key from a predetermined repository, and decrypts a rights object using the user's key.

(3) Domain binding: a host, which has joined a domain, decrypts a rights object using a key of the domain.

(4) Host binding: if a host currently connected to an SMC is a host to which a rights object is bound, the rights object is decrypted using a key of the host.

After operation S403, the content 412 is decrypted using the CEK, which was obtained from the decrypted rights object 411, and used by the user (operation S404).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a DRM apparatus 500 includes an SMC 501, a purchase interface unit 502, an encryption unit 503, and a communication interface unit 504. The SMC 501 stores content, a rights object and state information of the rights object, and supports the use of the content according to copyright and copyright restrictions. The purchase interface unit 502 receives information regarding content selected by a user to purchase and is used by the user to pay for the selected content. The encryption unit 503 encrypts a rights object for the paid content using a designated biding target key and stores the encrypted rights object in the SMC 501. The communication interface unit 504 communicates with the SMC 501.

As described above, the SMC 501 stores content, a rights object and state information of the rights object, and supports the use of the content according to copyright and copyright restrictions. Examples of the SMC 501 include a memory card and a smart card.

The state information of the rights object indicates the degree to which the rights object has been consumed. The state information may be included in the rights object. Alternatively, a device storing the rights object may manage the state information separately from the rights object.

For example, if a usage time limit is set to 10 hours in a rights object and a host has consumed the rights object for more than 4 hours in order to use corresponding content, the state information of the rights object may represent the period of time during which the host has consumed the rights object so far, that is, 4 hours, or the period of time during which the host can consume the rights object and use the content, that is, 6 hours.

The purchase interface unit 502 receives information regarding content selected by a user to purchase, and is used by the user to pay for the selected content.

To this end, the purchase interface unit 502 may include an input unit (not shown) and may be connected to a separate settlement system (not shown) so that the user can pay for the content.

The encryption unit 503 encrypts a rights object for the content, which was paid for using the purchase interface unit 502, using a designated binding target key, and stores the encrypted rights object in the SMC 501 via the communication interface unit 504.

The communication interface unit 504 may include a predetermined contact terminal in order to contact the SMC 501 and transmit or receive data to/from the SMC 501. The communication interface unit 504 may also include a predetermined wireless communication device in order to wirelessly transmit or receive data to/from the SMC 501 without contacting the SMC 501.

A binding target may be designated according to a policy of a copyright issuer. Alternatively, the user may designate a binding target after paying for the content.

Binding targets according to this exemplary embodiment include a card, a user, a domain and a host, and a detailed description thereof is as follows.

(1) SMC binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of an SMC, if it is moved or copied to devices other than the SMC, corresponding content cannot be used. However, anyone who holds the SMC can consume the rights object bound to the SMC.

(2) User binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of a user, other people cannot use the rights object. However, the user can consume the rights object bound to various devices that the user has.

(3) Domain binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of a domain, devices that have not joined the domain cannot use the rights object. However, all devices that have joined the domain can consume the rights object bound to the domain.

(4) Host binding: since a rights object is encrypted using a key of a host, if the rights object is moved to devices other than the host, it cannot be used. However, anyone who has the host can consume the rights object bound to the host.

A rights object can be moved or copied, when the right to move or copy the rights object is available. If a rights object is moved from a first device to a second device, the rights object is completely removed from the first device. Therefore, the rights object exists only in the second device.

If it is a copyright issuer that binds the rights object to a binding target, the rights object is encrypted by the encryption unit 503 using a key of a binding target designated by the copyright issuer and transmitted subsequently to an online host. On the other hand, if it is the online host that binds the rights object, the rights object is encrypted using a key of a binding target designated by the online host after the rights object is issued by the copyright issuer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an apparatus for using a rights object required to use digital content according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a DRM apparatus 600 includes an SMC 601, a communication interface unit 602, and a content provision unit 603.

The SMC 601 stores content, a rights object and state information of the rights object, and supports the use of the content according to copyright and copyright restrictions. The communication interface unit 602 forms a security channel with the SMC 601 after mutual authentication and receives a rights object from the SMC 601. The content provision unit 603 decrypts the received rights object using a binding target key and provides information needed to play back content.

The SMC 601 included in the DRM apparatus 600 of FIG. 6 is identical to the SMC 501 included in the DRM apparatus 500 of FIG. 5, and thus a detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

As described above, the communication interface unit 602 forms a security channel with the SMC 601 after mutual authentication, and receives a rights object from the SMC 601.

To this end, the communication interface unit 602 may include a predetermined contact terminal in order to contact the SMC 601 and transmit or receive data to/from the SMC 601. The communication interface unit 602 may also include a predetermined wireless communication device in order to wirelessly transmit or receive data to/from the SMC 601 without contacting the SMC 601.

The DRM apparatus 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 forms the security channel with the SMC 601 using the communication interface unit 602, and receives a rights object.

The security channel is a transmission channel formed after devices authenticate each other and guarantees the encryption and integrity of transmission data.

The content provision unit 603 decrypts the received rights object using a binding target key, and provides information required to play back content.

Here, the content provision unit 603 determines a binding target key, which is to be used to decrypt the received rights object, according to a binding target key used to encrypt the rights object.

Binding targets according to this exemplary embodiment include a card, a user, a domain and a host, and a detailed description thereof is as follows.

(1) SMC binding: a rights object is decrypted using a key of an SMC.

(2) User binding: a host generates a user's key based on input user information or receives the user's key from a predetermined repository, and decrypts a rights object using the user's key.

(3) Domain binding: a host, which has joined a domain, decrypts a rights object using a key of the domain.

(4) Host binding: if a host currently connected to an SMC is a host to which a rights object is bound, the rights object is decrypted using a key of the host.

The content provision unit 603 obtains a CEK from the decrypted rights object, and decrypts the content so that the user can use the content.

Each component illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a software or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs certain tasks.

Each component may advantageously be configured to reside on the addressable storage medium and configured to execute on one or more processors. Thus, a component may include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functionality provided for in the components may be combined into fewer components or further separated into additional components.

As described above, a method and apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide at least one of the following advantages.

Since content and a rights object are kept in hardware, such as an SMC, in the form of media, the possession value of digital content media and the convenience of content management are provided. In addition, content can be used on various multimedia devices.

Since consumers are able to purchase DRM content, which is usually sold online, offline, the digital content market can expand its consumer base by absorbing consumers who are not familiar with the Internet.

If a rights object issued to an SMC includes information definitely needed to use DRM content, different DRMs can be supported. Therefore, a playback area of digital content can be easily expanded.

Furthermore, no uniform limitation is imposed on the copying and moving of a rights object. Instead, various policies for the use of content can be reflected. Therefore, content usability can be enhanced.

Since a copyright issuer and a content provider can directly sell content, the digital content market can be diversified.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 

1. A method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the method comprising: receiving the digital content and the rights object; and encrypting the rights object using a public key of a secure multimedia card (SMC) and storing the encrypted rights object in the SMC.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rights object can be moved and/or copied, when the right to move and/or copy the rights object is available.
 3. A method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the method comprising: selecting the digital content using a digital content purchase interface and paying for the digital content; encrypting a rights object for the digital content using a binding target key; and storing the encrypted rights object in a secure multimedia card (SMC).
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the encrypting the rights object comprises encrypting the rights object using a key of the SMC.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the encrypting the rights object comprises encrypting the rights object using a key of a user.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the encrypting the rights object comprises encrypting the rights object using a key of a domain.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the encrypting the rights object comprises encrypting the rights object using a key of a host.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the binding target key is designated by one of a copyright issuer and a user.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein the rights object can be moved and/or copied, when the right to move and/or copy the rights object is available.
 10. A method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the method comprising: forming a security channel with a digital content storage device after mutual authentication and receiving the rights object from the digital content storage device; and decrypting the rights object using a binding target key and providing information required to play back the digital content.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a secure multimedia card.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a user.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a domain.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a host.
 15. An apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the apparatus comprising: a purchase interface unit which receives information regarding the digital content selected by a user, the purchase interface unit being used by the user to pay for the digital content; an encryption unit which encrypts the rights object for the digital content using a binding target key and stores the encrypted rights object in a secure multimedia card (SMC); and a communication interface unit which communicates with the SMC.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the encryption unit encrypts the rights object using a key of the SMC.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the encryption unit encrypts the rights object using a key of the user.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the encryption unit encrypts the rights object using a key of a domain.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the encryption unit encrypts the rights object using a key of a host.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the binding target key is designated by one of a copyright issuer and the user.
 21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rights object can be moved and/or copied, when the right to move and/or copy the rights object is available.
 22. An apparatus for issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface unit which forms a security channel with a secure multimedia card (SMC) after mutual authentication and receives the rights object from the SMC; and a content provision unit which decrypts the rights object using a binding target key and provides information required to play back the digital content.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of the SMC.
 24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a user.
 25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a domain.
 26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rights object is decrypted using a key of a host.
 27. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer program for performing a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the method comprising: receiving the digital content and the rights object; and encrypting the rights object using a public key of a secure multimedia card (SMC) and storing the encrypted rights object in the SMC.
 28. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer program for performing a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the method comprising: selecting the digital content using a digital content purchase interface and paying for the digital content; encrypting a rights object for the digital content using a binding target key; and storing the encrypted rights object in a secure multimedia card.
 29. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer program for performing a method of issuing a rights object required to use digital content, the method comprising: forming a security channel with a digital content storage device after mutual authentication and receiving the rights object from the digital content storage device; and decrypting the rights object using a binding target key and providing information required to play back the digital content. 